Bialystoker Synagogue Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Bialystoker Synagogue
Bialystoker Synagogue in 2013
Religion
Affiliation	Orthodox Judaism
Ecclesiastical or organizational status	Church (1826 – 1905) Synagogue (since 1905)
Leadership	Rabbi Menachem Tuchman
Status	Active
Location
Location	7-13 Bialystoker Place, Manhattan, New York City, New York
Country	United States
Location in Lower Manhattan
Architecture
Architectural type	Church
Architectural style	Federal
Date established	1865 (as a congregation)
Completed	1826 (as a church) 1905 (as a synagogue)
Materials	Manhattan schist

The Bialystoker Synagogue is an important Orthodox Jewish synagogue in New York City. It is located at 7–11 Bialystoker Place in the Lower East Side area of Manhattan. A synagogue is a special place where Jewish people gather to pray and learn.

The building itself has a long history. It was first built in 1826 as a church called the Willett Street Methodist Episcopal Church. Later, in 1905, the Jewish community bought the building and turned it into the Bialystoker Synagogue.

This synagogue is a very old and special building. It was named a New York City Landmark in 1966. It is one of the few early 19th-century stone religious buildings still standing in Lower Manhattan. It is also the oldest building in New York City that is still used as a synagogue today.

History of the Congregation
- A New Home for New Immigrants
Building Design and Features
- Inside the Synagogue
- A Secret History
Recent Activities
Gallery
See also

History of the Congregation

The Bialystoker Synagogue started in 1865. It was first known as the Chevra Anshei Chesed of Bialystok. This group was formed by Jewish people who came from a town called Białystok. At that time, Bialystok was in the Russian Empire, but now it is part of Poland.

The group first met in a building on Hester Street. Then they moved to Orchard Street. Finally, they found their current home on Bialystoker Place.

A New Home for New Immigrants

In 1905, many new immigrants were arriving from the Bialystok area. To help everyone, the original group joined with another congregation from Bialystok called Adas Yeshurun. Together, they formed the Beit Ha-Knesset Anshei Bialystok, which means The Bialystoker Synagogue.

This new, larger congregation then bought the old Willett Street Methodist Episcopal Church building. This is the building we see today. The street it is on was later renamed Bialystoker Place. During the Great Depression, a time when many people faced hardship, the community decided to make the main prayer hall even more beautiful. They hoped this would give people hope and inspiration.

Today, the Bialystoker Synagogue is the largest synagogue in the Lower East Side. Many people come for daily prayer services, called minyanim. Rabbi Menachem Tuchman is the current rabbi (religious leader) of the synagogue.

Building Design and Features

The synagogue building was built in 1826. It is made of a type of stone called Manhattan schist. This stone came from a quarry (a place where stone is dug out) nearby on Pitt Street. The building has a simple roof with a triangular shape, called a pediment. It also has round arched windows.

Inside the Synagogue

Inside, there is a very detailed and beautiful Torah Ark. This is a special cabinet where the Torah scrolls (holy Jewish texts) are kept. Many people believe this ark was carved in Bialystok and then sent all the way to New York.

Because it is an Orthodox Jewish synagogue, there is a special balcony section for women. This allows men and women to pray separately, which is a tradition in Orthodox Judaism.

A Secret History

In a corner of the women's balcony, there is a small hidden door. This door leads to a ladder that goes up to an attic. This attic has two windows that let in light. When the building was first built, it was used as a safe place for the Underground Railroad. The Underground Railroad was a secret network that helped enslaved people escape to freedom. Runaway slaves found a safe place to hide in this attic.

In the 1990s, the synagogue updated its air conditioning system. Because the building is a historical landmark, they could not put the cooling units on the roof. Instead, they were carefully installed on the side of the building to protect its historic look.

Recent Activities

In 1988, the people of the synagogue worked to restore the inside of the building. They made it look as beautiful as it did when it was first built. The old Hebrew school building, which was attached to the synagogue and had become run down, was also fixed up. It reopened as The Daniel Potkorony Building. The amazing stained glass windows in the synagogue were also recently completely remade and restored to their original beauty.

Gallery

Restored stained glass window
Reading the Book of Esther on Purim 2007 at Bialystoker

Bialystoker Synagogue facts for kids

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